Vehicle



W. SWALLOW VEHICLE Original Filed Nov. 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM SWALLOW WM/ M ATTORNEY 7 May 19,' 1936.

W. SWALLOW VEHICLE 4 shets-sheev 2 Original Filed Nov. 12, 1934 INVENTOR 1M1 SwALww w.- swALLow Re. 19,975

May 19, 1936.

vmucw 0113131 Filed Nov. 12. 1934 4 s heets sheet 3 INVENTOR Wuum SwAunw ATTORNEY al llllllllllllll Ill:-

May 19, 1936,

' w. SWALLOW VEHICLE Original Filed Nov. 12, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WENIOR WILLIAM SWXLLQW Reissued May 19, 1936;

ovarian STATES- PATENT OFFICE- VEHICLE V William Swallow, Headington, Oxford, England, assign-or to Pressed Steel Company Limited, Cowley, Oxford, England, a British company Original No. 2,012,057, dated August 20, 1935,

Serial No, 752,747, November 12, 1934. Application for reissue March 6, 1936, Serial No. 67,563. In Great Britain November 10, 1933 16 Claims.

most solely by the rigidity and stiflness of the chassis frame. Consequently this feature is one of the prime causes of success or non-success of a vehicle. This rigidity is, of course, assisted to a certain extent by the body itself and where it is possible to make the body and chassis as nearly as possible a unitary construction then the best results are obtained.

Many proposals have been put forward to give this greater rigidity and stiffness to a chassis frame. provision of a cruciform bracing member in addition to the normal transverse bracing members, which has been almost universally adopted. Another method is the provision of a box section chassis frame with the usual transverse members; yet again a'common method is the formation of box section body side sills adapted to be bolted to the chassis side frame sills. All of these methods, of course, have their advantages and do result in a better performance. They do, however, entail certain manufacturing processes not necessary heretofore, giving increased first cost.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembly of body and chassis frame, resulting in a very rigid structure but which does not necessitate additional manufacturing processes for its effective operation, which is therefore cheap and gives a very reliable result.

According to the present invention a body is mounted on its chassis so that the assembly presents a'box section underframe structure.

The chassis side sills may, for example, be'simpie channel section members, reinforced if desired with the usual cruciform bracing member, the body side panel unit being arranged to overlap the open side of the channel section side sill of the chassis frame to constitute therewith a box section structure.

Preferably the side sills of the chassis frame are outwardly presenting channel section members formed with or without, as desired, flanges substantially in the plane of the side panel assembly, which is secured to said channel section members by, e. g. bolting.

' It is to be understood that the box section structure, whilst preferably extending along thefull length of' the union of the body with the chassis frame, may, if desired, extend only par- One of the most common methods is the 7 tially therealong, the other portions being substantially of standard construction.

The chassis frame may comprise two longitudinal outwardly presenting channel section members joined at their rear ends by a. tubular or other transverse bracing member and further braced intermediately of their length by means of a cruciform structure, the forward ends being braced for example by means of an outrigger construction as described in my copending application for Vehicle chassis frames, Serial No.7 83,385,

filed August 4, 1934. The lower flange of the outwardly presenting longitudinal channel section members is formed with a vertically depending auxiliary flange to which is bolted the lower edge I of the side sill assembly of the body.

- The body may comprise a sheet metal construction consisting of a front or cowl unit, two side units, and a tonneau unit, joined together into one complete whole by welding. Each side unit comprises inner and outer unitary stampings, the lower edges of which are arranged to lie to close the open side of the outwardly presenting channel section longitudinal chassis sidev sills. The inner unitary stamping may be normally-flat and vertical and arranged to overlap the upper flange or limb of the channel longitu-' dinal and auxiliary flange thereof, thereby closing the open side of the channel, whilst the outer panel may be suitably contoured, to present e. 3. threshold portions, and similarly adapted to overlap the channel longitudinals, both inner and outer unitary stampings being secured to the channels by bolting. In this manner the bodyat the threshold openings ,will lie substantially in the plane of the upper face of the channel section longitudinals, thereby providing easy entry into the interior of the body. And fore and aft of the threshold openings, the inner stamping or wall, either alone or in combination with other members, serves'to close the channel section sill and form therewith a box section structure. At those portions of the side unit construction constituting thepost structures the inner unitary stamping may be cut-out and reinforced by gus-. set or flitch plates to overlap the upper flange'of the channel section longitudinal.

With this construction it is possible to provide continuous chassis side sllls of box section extending from the rear of the tonneau to the front of the bonnet or hood, the contour of the body being attained by bridging means or by means of flitch plates arranged to claw 'the open sides of the channels and to be connected with the outer unitary stam'pings. V

Figure 3 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Figural,

Figure 4 is a section to an enlarged scale the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

' Figure 5 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 5-4 of FLgure 1,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a'modifled form of vehicle body,

Figure 7 is a section to an enlarged scale on the line 1--'l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an enlarged part side view of the bottom of the B-C post construction,

Figure 9 is a sectionto an enlarged scale on the line 9-9 of Figure 6, and

Iii

Figures 10-16'are sectionalized part perspective views of further modifledforms of theinvention,

is mountedon its chassis B as shown clearly in.

Figures 2 to 5. 1

Each chassisside frame member comprises an outwardly presenting channel section member II, the lower horizontal limb l2 thereof being formed with a depending flange l3. The body comprises an outer panel l4, formed as a unitary stamping, having the usual type of reinforcing inner members (not shown) and including door openings l6 and window openings, such as l1, and a rear wheel housing l8, the lower margins l5 of the outer panel l4 being formed with door threshold portions IS, the door openings being further formed with a rabbet 20, to receive the flange 2| of the door 22. Welded at 23 and 24 to the lower margin of the outer panel is a longitudinally extending inner stamping or sill plate 25, formed at its upper edge with an inwardly presenting horizontal flange 23 adapted to overlie the upper horizontal limb 21 of the outwardly presenting channel section side frame ll of the chassis.

This inner wall or sill plate 25, extends, as will be seen, from the rear of the body to the front of the hood, and forms throughout its length with the chassis sill i I a box section structure. Along the greater part of the length of the body, the

combination of the lower margin of the outer panel l4 and the longitudinally extending sill plate 25 presents an additional outer substantially box section structure, as shown in Figures 2and 3,- whilst at the rear wheel housing the portion I8 of the outer panel lies close against and is secured directly to, the sill plate, and forward of the front of the body, the fender or wing skirt 23 is brought down to be-welded to the sill plate 2!, the horizontal flange 26 of which is extended further inwardly and finally further flanged upwardly as at 28, to constitute a seating for th side member 30 of the bonnet or hood 3|.

When the body is mounted on its chassis, i't'isformed with vertically extending flanges 63, 34,

19,976 g i I provides, with the outwardly presenting channel section chassis side frame member, a double box section structure, in the region of the door thresholds, and a single box section structure extending beyond such region both to the front and rear of the vehicle.

Where desired, a floor board may be secured by welding to the horizontal flange of the threshold portion l9 and overlying the upper horizontal limb 21 of the chassis side frame member.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, Figure 6 shows a modification of the invention, wherein the body style differs from that so far described.

As before, the body includes a. unitary outer stamping 4|, formed with the usual door and window openings 42 and 43 respectively, and the few - rear wheel housing 44, but the side sill construction towards the front of the body differs somewhat, in that it is given an upward rake.-

The chassis side frame comprises, as before, the outwardly presenting channel section member H, the lower horizontal limb l2 of which is formed with a depending flange l3.

The mounting of the body in the region of the 3-0 post 45, is shown; in Figures '7 and 8, where the outer panel 48 of the 3-0 post is reinforced by a channel section member 41, both extended downwardly and turned in at their lowermost edges as at 48, 49 and flanged downwardly as at 30 50, ii, to abut against the flange I3 of the chassis plate 25 overlapping the outwardly presenting channel section chassis frame member l-I to provide a closure therefor and therewith present a further box-section structure.

Towards the frontof the body, see Figure 9, the

threshold portions of the body are elongated upwardly, the outer panel 3|, being formed with the threshold rail 52 and rabbet 33 and having secured thereto a reinforcing member 54 flanged inwardly at its lower end as at 55 to overlie the inturned flange 23 of the sill plate 25, itself overlapping the limb 21 of the chassis frame ,I I. 'A running board 56 is shown secured, with the interposition of a weather strip 51, to the outer panel 5|.

Figure 10 shows one method of mounting the body on the chassis without the use of the longitudinally extending sill plates. The horizontal limbs GI, 62 of the chassis frame Ii are each against which bears directly the lower margin 65 of the outer panel, being secured .thereto by welding or bolting (not shown).

In Figure 11 is shown a modification, adaptable particularly for a tubular construction. The chassis frame is formed of outwardly presenting semicylindrical members ll, formed with vertical flanges I2, 13, whilst the lower margins of the outer panel of the body are constituted by inwardly presenting semicylindrical sections 14, formed with flanges Ii, 13 adapted to abut the flanges l2, l3 and be-secured thereto by bolting, a floor board being welded or otherwise secured to a horizontal extension of the flange I5.

Figures 12 to 16 show different forms of chassis side frame member 3| to which the body 32 is secured. to present a box section structure.

It will be'clear from the foregoing that, th is provided a structure which is exceedinglyfsimple, and substantially cheaper to produce, no a ditional manufacturing processes being required, whilst the result is one giving greater rigid-' ity and strength than heretofore to the ultimate framework, resulting in a construction having greater durability and considerably less likeli-- hood of .developing those undesirable squeaks and rattles met with so frequently.

I claim: 1. In a. vehicle construction, a body comprising a unitary outer side panel formed in its lower margins with threshold portions including a downwardly extending outer wall from the threshold portions and a longitudinally extending sill member of outwardly presenting channel sec tion assembled therewith and forming with said sill plate a box section combined body and chassis sill structure.

2. In a vehicle construction, a body comprising a unitary outer side panel formed in its lower margins with threshold portions and a longitudinally extending sill plate of angular section reinforcing said threshold portions, in combination with a chassis sill member of outwardly presenting channel section, assembled therewith and forming a box section combined body and chassis sill structure, a limb of said angular section sill plate overlapping the upper horizontal limb of said outwardly presenting channel section chassis sill member and secured thereto.

3. In a vehicle construction, a chassis sill member of outwardly presenting channel section, a body comprising a unitary outer side panel formed in its lower margins with threshold portions, and a longitudinally extending reinforcing sill plate interposed between said sill member and the threshold portions of the body and forming therewith inner and outer box section strucures.

4. In a vehicle construction a chassis sill memher, a unitary body outer side panel formed in its lower margin with threshold portions, said threshold portions being reinforced by a sill plate arranged to form with said chassis sill member a box section structure, said sill formed with an inturned horizontal stituting an apron between the wing plate being flange conand bonnet I of the vehicle and a seating for the latter.

5. In a vehicle construction, a chassis sill member, a unitary body outer side panel formed with a wheel housing depression, a longitudinally extending sill plate reinforcing .the lower portion of said wheel housingdepression, the wheel housing depression lying against and secured to Said sill plate, and the wheel housing depression and .5111 plate in their overlapped regions forming with the chassis sill member'a box section structure.

6. In a vehicle construction, a separate chassis .construction including a chassis sill member of outwardly presenting channel section, the lower horizontal limb of said member being formed with :3. depending flange, in combination with a unitary body side wall structure having its lower margin provided with threshold portions of box section and adapted to be assembled therewith in final assembly and secured to said depending flange and forming with the. channel section of the sill a double box section combined body and chassis sill.

7. In a vehicle construction, a chassis including a chassis sill structure of hollow open-aided section, in combination with aunitary body side wall structure formed adjacent its lower margins with threshold portions oi box section projecting laterally, and the lower margins of the side wall structure being adapted when finally assembled to cover the open side of said sill structure and form with said chassis sill structure a combined body and. chassis sill structure of double box section,

8. In a vehicle construction, a chassis including a chassis sill structure of open section out-' wardly presented, in combination with a unitary body side wall structure formed in its lower margin with threshold portions, said side wall structure from said threshold portion downwardly being of'open section inwardly presented of substantially the same height as the height of said chassis sill. structure, and adapted when finally assembled to cover the side of said sill structure and form with said chassis sill structure a calm bined body and chassis sill structure of box section, and a partition between the said body section and the said sill structure section and com- 7 mon to both.

10. In a vehicle construction, a chassis sill member of outwardly presenting channel section having a flange extending from its lower limb, a body comprising a unitary outer side panel formed in its lower margins with threshold portions having inwardly extending flanges in the thresholds and a downwardly extending flange at the lower edge of said side panel, the threshold flanges seating on top of the said chassis sill member and secured thereto, and the downwardly extending flange secured to the flange on the lower limb of the said member in the final assembly of said body and chassis sill.

11. In a vehicle construction, a chassis sill member of outwardly presenting channel section having a flange extending from its lower limb, a body comprising a unitary sheet metal side panel having a flange extending inwardly at the thresholds of the door openings and a downwardly extending flange at the lower edge thereof, said side panel flanges being arranged in the final assembly of said body with the chassis sill member to overlap, respectively, the top limb and the flange of the lower limb of said sill member and be secured thereto in said overlaps.

12. In a vehicle construction, a chasis sill member o1 outwardly presenting channel section having a flange extending from its lower limb, a body comprising a unitary sheet metal side wall having in the threshold region and substantially throughout the entire length oi. the pessenger compartment of the body an inwardly extending flange and at its lower edge and of similar longitudinal extent a downwardly extending flange, said side wall flanges of the body being arranged in the final assembly of the body with the chasis sill member to overlap, respec tively, the top limb and the flange of the lower limb of said sill member and be secured thereto in said overlaps.

13. In a vehicle construction, a chassis on member of outwardly presenting channel section, a body comprising an outer side panel formed with a threshold portionsecured to the upper and lower limbs of said chassis sill member, said -member extending rearwardiy of said threshold portion at least to the rear wheel supports of the vehicle, and a flat plate closing the open side 01 said rearwardly extending portion or said chassis sill member and torming therewith a box section structure.

l4..In a vehicle construction. a chassis member of outwardly presenting channel section,

a body comprising an outer side panel formed with a threshold portion secured to the upper and lower limbs 01 said chassis sill member, said member extending iorwardiy or said threshold portion along the hood of the vehicle, and a flat plate closing the open side of said forwardly extending portion of said chassis sill member and forming therewith a box section structure.

15. In a vehicle construction, a chassissill member of outwardly presenting channel section,

and a body side member comprising a platehaving at its upper edge an'inwardly presenting flange, said flange overlapping and secured to ,having a flange extending from the edge of its lower limb, and a body member comprising a plate having at its upper edge an inwardly presenting flange, said last mentioned flange overlapping and secured to the upper limb of the said sill member, and said plate'secured at its lower the upper limb of thesaid channel section all] edge to said flrst mentioned flange and closing the open side of said chassis sill member to form therewith a box section structure. said structure extending substantially the 'ull length of the i vehicle from the rear to the frontwheels thereof.

WIILIAM SWALLOW. 

